Immortal of the Nine Realms-Chapter 1404: Bad Omen
Lin Yuan and the other two immediately brightened up. They hadn't expected Fang Chen to be knowledgeable about traversing the Underworld.
Lin Yuan was bubbling with excitement. "Captain, your breadth of knowledge is truly impressive. No more idle talk, please teach us how to walk the Path of Yin!"
Even Yu Wuxia grew excited. He knew more about walking the Path of Yin than Lin Yuan and Meng Qingling, but had never had the chance to actually visit the Underworld. Now, meeting this opportunity on Enlightenment Star made him eager to try it out.
Fang Chen led the three to a meditation chamber and casually set up more than a dozen restrictive spells.
Fang Chen explained, "When you traverse to the Underworld, you leave your physical body vulnerable. You can only rely on these restrictive spells to keep you safe. If someone has malicious intentions towards your body and harms you during your traversal, you won't be able to sense it at all. In the Lower Six Realms, many cultivators have been discovered by their enemies while walking the Yin—they're either killed or carried off by wild beasts. Once that happens, their soul loses its anchor, and they truly die."
Lin Yuan tensed up. He stammered, "Then... what about us?"
"This is the Enlightenment God Palace, so it should be safe. I've also added restrictive spells as a safe measure," said Fang Chen with a smile.
After thinking it over, the others decided to traverse the Underworld here. They haven't made any enemies in the Enlightenment God Palace anyway. Even if that Daoist Zhou showed up, he wouldn't forcibly break through these restrictive spells.
They felt much more at ease.
The method of walking the Path of Yin was simple. With their Tribulation Realm cultivation, they quickly grasped the process. Fang Chen placed the Soul Guiding Lantern around them to serve as a medium and then started guiding them in operating the technique.
Gradually, their breathing slowed until it finally stopped. Their divine souls flew out of their bodies. This sensation was different, though they couldn't quite explain how.
Fang Chen watched their souls walking the Underworld carefully, noticing no difference from the Lower Six Realms. Soon, a white mist surged nearby, rolling toward their souls.
Lin Yuan and the others were hesitant to touch the mist, instinctively wanting to avoid it.
"Don't be afraid. This will take you onto the Yellow Springs Road," said Fang Chen, standing before them, looking at the mist with a faint smile.
So it really is possible to traverse the Underworld here.
Lin Yuan muttered softly, "Yellow Springs Road... that phrase sounds a bit like bad luck..."
Yu Wuxia and Meng Qingling instinctively nodded, also feeling that the phrase sounded odd. Usually, it was said to enemies.
Soon, the mist enveloped the four of them. With Fang Chen present, Lin Yuan and the others gradually lowered their guard and stood in place, their curiosity slightly piqued as they waited.
After a long while, the mist slowly dispersed, and the surroundings completely changed. They were no longer in the cave dwelling but appeared on a wide road paved with neatly cut white jade slabs.
This is not the Yellow Springs Road.
That was Fang Chen's first thought.
Countless figures appeared nearby, all moving in the same direction like walking corpses, their expressions either gloomy or vacant.
Lin Yuan's eyes shimmered with curiosity. He asked, "What are these..."
"Wandering souls," Fang Chen answered.
"If this were the Lower Six Realms, they would be heading to the Forgotten River. Crossing it leads to the Underworld."
"The Forgotten River..."
Their expressions changed slightly.
"However... things here might be different," said Fang Chen. "For now, let's not pay much attention and follow them to see."
Fang Chen took the lead and started walking forward.
Lin Yuan and the others quickly followed.
During the journey, Lin Yuan tentatively tried to talk to the wandering souls around them. He found that these souls were surprisingly talkative. Though their minds weren't entirely clear, they weren't muddled enough to prevent normal conversation.
A little old man approached with a smile and bowed to Fang Chen and the others. "Everyone, you clearly are not ordinary people. I'm entering the Underworld for the first time. Do you know if there are any rules here?"
Lin Yuan rolled his eyes. "Old man, you're entering the Underworld for the first time? You think it's not our first time too?"
The old man froze, then gave a wry smile. "I am old and foolish. It's just that you look too blessed, unlike those who died tragically..."
Lin Yuan suddenly asked, "Old man, how long did you live?"
The old man looked a bit proud. "One hundred and six years. I had a joyous funeral. Before my funeral hall, over two hundred descendants wept for seven full days. It was a lively scene."
"Oh, so you're just a mortal."
Lin Yuan immediately lost interest. He turned to Fang Chen. "Captain, if a cultivator dies..."
"We're no different from mortals. Nothing special happens after our death. The only advantage is that cultivators know more, so their chances of surviving in the Underworld are higher."
"Chance of surviving in the Underworld?"
Everyone pondered this, seeming to realize that this Underworld might be as competitive as the Nine Mortal Realms.
They hadn't walked long when the scenery around them began to shift constantly. Soon, an endless black sea appeared before their eyes.
Countless small boats moved back and forth across the black sea, densely packed, making the scene quite lively.
Lin Yuan asked curiously, "Is this the Forgotten River?"
"Probably not."
Definitely not.
Fang Chen's expression was a bit strange. That looked very much like Forgotten River, but it absolutely wasn't. He had fused with the Forgotten River's Dao. If it were truly it, he would have sensed it by now. But everything before them seemed very similar to the Lesser Underworld, almost like a deliberate imitation.
The fact that it was deliberate could be seen from the neatly laid white jade floor beneath their feet.
"Entering the underworld requires paying Yin Lifespan. One at a time, line up properly. No cutting in line or you'll be expelled."
"Lord, how much is the fee?"
"Five years. This is the toll. Only after paying can you enter the Underworld and then be reincarnated. Five years of Yin Lifespan isn't much. Pay quickly, don't waste time."
"Yes!"
Some wandering souls paid the toll and boarded the small boats. Once five hundred people boarded, it would set sail toward the distance.
There were countless boats here, meaning that at any moment, a massive number of wandering souls were being transported.
Fang Chen mused thoughtfully, "In the Lesser Underworld, only those with lingering attachments are guided here. But in this place, you can pay Yin Lifespan and directly enter the Underworld?"
Fang Chen and the others lined up. Fortunately, the area was vast, and there was probably more than one Yellow Springs Road. Thus, after waiting a bit, it was their turn.
"To which core disciple are you subordinated? Do you not know the rules? It's not time shift-change time. Why are you walking the Path of Yin without permission?"
The one collecting the Yin Lifespan was an old man in black robes. When he saw Fang Chen and the others, a trace of anger appeared as he scrutinized them.
Scolded, Lin Yuan and the others were stunned.
The old man with them quickly put some distance between himself and them, acting as if he didn't know them.
Fang Chen's eyes flickered. Indeed, bringing them along was the right choice. You really can't just walk the Path of Yin here without permission.
He respectfully cupped his hands. "The four of us came back to the Enlightenment God Palace with Core disciple Li Shanzi and will be members of Core Disciple Hong Zhi's expedition team in the future. Daoist Zhou Quan said we might have to serve in the Underworld later, and I happen to know some basics of walking the Path of Yin, so I wanted to come take a look. I apologize if we broke any rules. I am willing to accept punishment."
